Artists’ Ball will go 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

The Mardi Gras season is a colorful celebration where art and life mingle on the streets of Mobile. The Azalea City’s collection of artists (both aural and visual) recognizes this as well and continues to make contributions to this holiday season. Devlin Wilson has established a reputation for making Mardi Gras balls an artistic experience with his eclectic décor. For the Mobile Museum of Art’s “The Art & Design of Mardi Gras” installation, Jillian Crochet was one of the artists who created a queen’s gown made of Mardi Gras throws, which was highlighted by an elegant corset made of Mardi Gras cups.

Art does not stop at the visual, and Portal Studio is a local artistic institution that recognizes this. With each event they hold, Portal always includes a band that matches the artistic ideology of the evening. With the mingling of sonic and visual art in mind, Portal Studio (163 N. Lawrence St.) will be holding their first annual “Artist’s Ball” on Fri., Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. with a parade by Lunatix & Co. at 9 p.m. Those wanting to attend are encouraged to come in costume. In addition to projection art, body painting and displays by Portal Artists, those in attendance can expect an unforgettable performance from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

While 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea classify their sound as “Psychedelic Surf Rock,” their music definitely exists in an undiscovered aural realm. This musical communal will be performing tracks off of their latest release “Patchwork of Light.”

“Dance, Dance Claire” is the album’s opening track and sets the tone for the album with its combination of jangling guitar, brash trombone and reggae-infused beat. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea also mixes elements of old school country into their unique style with tracks such as “Watching Cigarettes Burn” and “Street Kids.” Portal made the perfect choice in musical entertainment for their first Artist’s Ball.

Country coming to town

Country Artist Corey Smith will be at the Soul Kitchen on Friday, Feb. 13. Like A Horse will open.

Over the years, country artist Corey Smith has maintained an extremely dedicated local following. Smith is joining forces with 95 KSJ to bringing a little country to Mobile’s Mardi Gras celebration. On Fri., Feb. 13, Smith will take the stage at the Soul Kitchen for an evening of country sounds in LoDa. Smith will be performing tracks off of his latest release “Maysville in the Meantime.” Strung Like a Horse will be the show’s opener. Tickets are on sale now ($18 adv. /$22 day-of) at Soul Kitchen, their website, Mellow Mushroom (WeMo/MiMo) and by calling 1-866-468-7630.

About The Author

With the exception of two years spent at Auburn University, Steve Centanni has spent his life in Mobile County while focusing on his two passions: music and the written word. As soon as he was issued his driver’s license, Centanni began to explore the local music scene in the early ‘90s.
He filled his weekend with visits classic local venues such as the Four Strong Winds Coffee House, Vincent Van Go-Go’s and Culture Shock, all of which welcomed those who had yet to reach 18. After high school, Centanni traded Mobile for Auburn to complete his B.A. in English with an emphasis on general writing.
While at Auburn, he had the honor of studying under the Pulitzer-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, who served as the nation’s Poet Laureate in 2012 and 2014. After receiving his diploma, Centanni quickly moved back to Mobile and completed the University of South Alabama’s graduate program with a M.Ed. Eventually, he was tapped by the nationally distributed Volume Entertainment Magazine to serve as the magazine’s managing editor/senior writer.
His time with Volume allowed him to exercise his love for both music and writing. As Volume began to fade, Lagniappe recruited Centanni as their Music Writer and later their Music Editor, where he has remained for a little over a decade.
As far as his involvement in the local music scene, Centanni organized Cess Fest at the Langan Park, which was a mini-festival focused on original local music in a time when original local music was veritably taboo in Downtown Mobile. For a short time, he brought original music to Downtown Mobile as the in-house promoter for the now deceased venue Cell Block. He managed local underground powerhouse Fry Cook, until the members parted ways. Centanni has lent his bass to bands such as Keychain Pistol and The F’n A-Holes, and he toured nationally as a member of Abstract Artimus & the Torture Children.
Currently, he provides vocals for the garage blues rock outfit Johnny No. Ultimately, Centanni’s experience in the local music scene as both a participant and an observer has allowed him to witness the ever-changing persona of Mobile’s enigmatic music scene, which continues to leave him with more questions than answers.